China vice-minister "observes" Libya conference

China said Wednesday that it would send a vice-minister to “observe” a Paris conference on Thursday on the reconstruction of Libya, whose rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) Beijing has yet to officially recognize, the AFP reported. The event brought together representatives from 60 nations – including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister David Cameron and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – to discuss the future of Libya following a months-long rebellion that toppled Moammar Gaddaffi’s regime. China’s Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun attended “as the representative and observer of the Chinese government,” the foreign ministry announced. Beijing, which has invested heavily in rail, oil and telecoms in Libya, refrained from endorsing NATO air strikes in support of the rebel movement; however, it later began opening contacts with the rebels and said it recognized them as an “important dialogue partner.”

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